Greenhouse bench



-March 1 1927.

C. W. ROBERTS GREENHOUSE BENCH Filed Marh 8,- 192.6 2 Sheets-Sheet l WMM,

c. w. ROBERTS GREENHOUSE BENCH Filed March 8,1926 2 sheetssneet 2 March 1 1927.

31a/vanto@ I attozwut Patented Mar. 1, 1927.Y

UNITED STATES CHARLES- W. ROBERTS, F CENTERVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF JGSEPH H. HILL, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

PATENT oFFlcE.

GREn'NHoUsE BENCH.

'appncationmq Marci; e, 1926. seriarivo. 93,120.

The object'of my present invention, broadly speaking, is to provide greenhouse benches in which plants may be grown, Vthe same being strong and durable in construction, 6 which wi-ll be practically indestructible,easi

ly formed and assembled, and which is connected together' without nails, bolts, or, other separate securing means; the same being adapted to be piled fla-t for storage or trans- 10 portation whereby the parts will occupy but a minimum of space, and which will'beV easily and quickly assembled when required in operative position, and also forming such dev-ice whereby it can be manufactured, sold, and installed at a comparatively low pri-ce. In greenhouses, especially where roses and other flowers are grown, it is the practice to provide benches which have flat bottoms, with sides extending upward therearound, and supported on legs which extend down to the iioor or ground; It is customary to construct such benches of wood or the like, and as the benches must have soil therein with growing plants rooted in the soil, vand as moisture has to be supplied thereto, therefore it is evident that the wooden benches soon rotI and becomedamaged and have to be frequently replaced. The object of this invention is to provide such benches Aformed of reinforced concrete, thereby entirely eliminating any wooden parts, whereby benches will be practically indestructible, and will not be effected by ,moisture or atmospheric conditions.

Other objects andparticula'r advantages of the invention 'will be made apparent in the course of the following description, and thatl which is new'will be correlated in the appended claims. f

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention ina practical and efficient manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which--Figurer l is 'a' pei spective view of oneY section of a bench, one end member being omitted. Figure 2 is an outside perspective view of: one of the end members'. Figure 3 is an edgeA view of aportion of a reinforcing sheet, in vconnection' with afreinfoioing rod. Figure i is a face view of the p'arts'shown'` in Fig. 3;

-spective view of a portionof either one of Figure 5 isV a cross section of either. onev of the end members, also showing one of theV vbottom members inrse'cti'omand apart of ing the end member of the bench which is opposite tol the end member shown in Fig'. 60V l, butv identical therewith'. Figure 8 isa cross section of either one of the side members. vFigure 9 is a cross section'of yone of the center rails. Figure 10 is` a crossl section of either one of the' cross rails. Figure l1 is a cross section of one of the bottom members. And Figure 12 is a top plan of the adjoining portions of an end member and a sidev rail.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In Vorder that the construction and the several advantages'of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereot, in which I will set forth the same as fully andas comprehensively as I may.

AReferring now tothe drawings in de'- tail: the construction is composed, first,of a plurality of cross rails 1, which are spaced the desired distance apart, parallel with each other. Each of said cross rails is supported by two legs 2,*whose lower ends should rest on a solid floor, or lon a foundation, or they may each extendy down into a concrete foundation formed in the floor.

Numeral 3 denotes the main or vertical portion of each side member, and extending' inward from the lower portion of the side members, integral therewith, is a .base or iange 4f, which extends the full length thereof, with their lower faces even with the edges ofthe member 3. The side members, and

their bases, i'est on the end portions of the rails, and they extend at right angles thereto, as shown.v Numeral 5 denotes the main A or bodyportion of the end members, which extend lower down' than the Vside members.

Extending from the lower Yedge of each member 5 is the compound flange or base 8, 100

which forms the shoulders 6 and 7. rThe shoulder 6 takes the place of a rail 1 at the ends of the bench, and it is on a level with the tops of said rails, The partforming the shoulder 7 is of less length than the shoulder' 6, in order to provide for the ends of the side members to fit in place therewith.

Resting on the shoulder 6, and extending across on the central port-ion ofthe rails 1, is the center rail 9, which is of the same thickness vertically as is the thickness vertically of the flanges 4, and the distance vertically between the faces 6 and 7.

Numeral 10 denotes each a plurality of bottom members, which form the Hoor of the bench. The members 10 extend across and fit between the two side members and rest on the flange 4 and the rail 9, andcontinue between the ends 5, but they do not lit tight together, in order to allow proper drainage and ventilation therebetween.

It is to be understood that each bench may consist of but a single section, by placing the endsv 5 across each end of the section shown in Fig. 1, which would complete the enclosure and provide a complete bench. Or, as will be most frequently the case, a plurality of sides 3 may be placed end-toend and extend in that manner for a long distance, which would place the two ends 5 a long distance apart, in which case the rail 9 would be continued by .like members, and also an additional number of rails 1, and legs 2, would be added, corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1.

All of said parts are formed of concrete molded to the shape. shown; and the sides 8, the ends 5, and the bottom members 10 are provided with metal reinforcement sheets, like the sheet 12 shown in Fig. il, which is known as metal lath, but said metal sheets are entirely enclosed and covered by the concrete of which the respective members are formed.

Also certain of the parts are provided with square and twisted reinforcing rods 13 which extend longitudinally and centrally through the base flanges 4 and 8, the rails 1, and the center rail 9, extendingr between and to near each end thereof and entirely imbedded therein.

Also a plurality of square and twisted reinforcing rods 14- are located in each of the sides 3 and in each of ends 5, shown in Figs. 8 and 5 respectively. The lower portions of the rods 14: are bent .inward at right angles thereto forn'iing the inturned portions 15 which extend into the members l and 8, substantially as shown. i

The vertical portions of the rods lll are interlaced into connection with the metal sheets 12 which contact therewith, as indicated in Figs. 3, l and 8, thereby forming compound reinforcement. f

At the junctures of various parts sea-ling apertures are formed. For instance, in the ends of the members 3 there is a half-round channel 16, and likewise in the inner faces of the members 5 a half-round channel 17 is formed near each end thereof.

lVhen the various parts are assembled the said channels are so located that each of the channels 16 registers with one of the channels 17, the two thereby forming a round channel which is to be filled with cement or concrete in fluid form, whereby said parts are sealed together closing the joints therebetween.

In practice a quantity of each of the several parts are constructed in molds made therefor and then when they are' desired they can be put together without cutting of lumber or driving nails. p

The legs 2 are first located, and the rails 1 laid thereon. The sides 3 are then set in position and connected by the end members 5. The center rail 9 is 'then rested on the' shoulder 6, with its upper edge level with` the shoulder 7. The members 10 are then laid in position shown in Fig. 1, after which the bench will be ready for use, except sealing the joints as above set forth, which can be done at any time. Y

It is evident that in practice the construction will afford all of the advantages and objects above enumerated.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction, without departing from the spirity of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful. c

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A greenhouse bench consisting of spaced apart sides, flanges extending inward toward each other from the bottom portion of said sides, end members connectinv said sides, flanges extending inward toward each other from the bottom portions of said ends, with said flanges of the ends forming upper and lower shoulders, a center rail resting at its ends upon the lower shoulders of the ends, a plurality of bottom members resting ou said flanges of the sides and on said center rail and extending over on the upper shoulders of the ends, means for supporting said parts above the ground line, and all Vof said parts formed of reinforced concrete.

2. A greenhouse bench comprising a plu-v rality of cross rails, legs for supporting said rails, side members resting on said rails at right angles thereto, end members connecting the ends of the side members, a center rail resting on said cross rails, inturned flanges at the lower edges Vof the side members, inturned flanges at the lower edges of the ends and forming an upper anda lower shoulder with the center rail resting at its ends upon the lower shoulders. of said flanges of the end members, bottom members extending between the side members and covering the space between the end members and resting on the flanges of the side members and upon the center rail and projecting onto the upper shoulders of the flange of the end members, and means for sealing the adjoining portions of the ends and the sides, all of said parts being formed 10 entirely of reinforced concrete.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed .my name.

CHARLES W. ROBERTS. 

